InfoAnda - Amid Afghan surge, disputed base becomes indispensable

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Interpol says no call received to arrest Thaksin | 29 May 2010
Brazil's Lula decides against extraditing Italian | | 1 January 2011
Australia mulls cost of 'epic' floods | 23 January 2011

US defends Iraq record after WikiLeaks furor | 26 October 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Amid Afghan surge, disputed base becomes indispensable

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Amid Afghan surge, disputed base becomes indispensable AFP - Saturday, March 20 Send IM Story Print Amid Afghan surge, disputed base becomes indispensable MANAS TRANSIT CENTRE, Kyrgyzstan (AFP) - – An earth mover rumbles slowly past a barbed-wire fence, churning up dirt under what will soon be temporary housing for thousands of coalition troops heading to Afghanistan. The housing will provide much-needed extra accommodation as more US troops pour into Afghanistan via the US Transit Centre nestled in Kyrgyzstan's Tien Shan mountains for the surge Washington hopes will quell the Taliban. With the surge well underway and expectations growing of an upcoming offensive in the former Taliban capital of Kandahar, the Manas Transit Centre continues to grow, its footpaths and tent cities clogged with tired soldiers. "I'm not going to speak (about the exact number of troops moving through Manas) for security reasons but I am going to tell you that it's most of them," said Colonel Blaine Holt, the senior US military official in Kyrgyzstan. "Absolutely the lion's share," he said. No less than 30 percent of all fuel brought into the war-wracked country now comes from Manas, Holt said, and the speed with which it is delivered goes a long way to explaining Washington's efforts to keep Manas open. "Kyrgyzstan has a very unique geographic position in that I can have a jet over (Afghanistan) in one hour and ten minutes," he said. Manas is key to the US strategy of overwhelming the Taliban-led insurgency but such an extensive American military presence in the heart of ex-Soviet Central Asia in no way pleases everyone, not least Russia. Last year a report on state-owned Russian television claimed its film crew had uncovered high-tech listening devices at Manas used to monitor mobile telecommunication in Russia and China. In February this year, Iran forced down a passenger jet en route to Bishkek in order to snatch Abdolmalek Rigi, an anti-Tehran Sunni militant. While in custody, he said he was coming to Manas to meet US officials. Holt angrily dismissed the accusations, which he says are part of a misinformation campaign designed to discredit the transit centre. "The documentary was poorly done. Poor quality and it was a patchwork of things designed to get people nervous about what we're doing here," he said. As for Rigi: "Preposterous," Holt said. We have zero association with somebody like that, nor would we have any association with anybody like that." The US Military Air Base at Manas opened in December 2001 as a staging point for the massive US bombing missions during the opening phases of the invasion of Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In 2009, Kyrgyzstan said it would close the base after receiving a promise of more than two billion dollars in aid and loans from Moscow, which many saw as a sign of Russian anger over the US military presence in its backyard. In the end, Bishkek pulled an abrupt about-turn after Washington more than tripled the rent it was paying for the base, which -- in what even Holt admits was a cosmetic change -- was renamed the Manas Transit Centre. Some 38,000 troops were pushed through the transit centre between October and November of last year alone, as coalition forces paved the way for a key push to dislodge the Taliban from their stronghold in Marjah, Helmand Province. But some observers wonder if the Manas deal -- while necessary in the short run -- will come back to haunt both Washington and Bishkek. The risk of spillover from the situation in Afghanistan is already worrying the long serving secular rulers of ex-Soviet Central Asia who are already rattled by rising poverty and Islamism in their states. As security has deteriorated in the previously-calm northern Afghan provinces, reports of militants trickling back in to destabilize the already unpopular governments here have become a source of anxiety. Manas could be a prime target for Islamists seeking to disrupt US operations in Afghanistan and score a victory in a region with little natural sympathy for radical Islamist ideals. "I don't think that any Central Asian government has a clear understanding of the long-term security implications," said a prominent Bishkek-based academic who asked for anonymity to speak freely about the base. In July of last year, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev won a second term in office in elections which were blasted by western observers for massive fraud, just weeks after Washington inked the new Manas deal. This put Washington in the uncomfortable position of being seen as trading off democracy and human rights in Central Asia for security, a dangerous position as Bakiyev's unpopular policies spark threats of fresh protests. "On the democratization issue and so on, it's definitely been negative... the US needs the base like it needs Saudi oil," said the academic. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles NKorean loggers in Russia making defection bids AP - 45 minutes ago Net produces new generation of China activists AP - 53 minutes ago SKorea appeals to France over looted royal books AP - 1 hour 32 minutes ago Trial starts in British teen's slaying in India AP - 1 hour 42 minutes ago Thai 'Red Shirt' rally to gridlock Bangkok AFP - 1 hour 57 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Atom smasher reaches record energy levels: CERN British Airways strike to go ahead McLaren launches new supercar Japan celebrates defeat of bluefin tuna trade ban US may extend tanker deadline to allow EADS bid More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended US children get Playboy, not Bugs Bunny in cable mixup Bullock cancels London trip, film premiere called off Siemens to revamp IT unit, cut 4,200 jobs Omega 3 supplement targets bowel cancer risk: study Obama signs multibillion-dollar jobs bill More Most Viewed » Chile quake moved Earth's axis, shortened days: scientist Experts confirm asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs 'Britain's Fritzl' raped daughters for over 25yrs Researchers back cancer-fighting properties of papaya Common weed-killer chemically castrates frogs: study More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Friday, 19 March 2010
Maliki holds narrow lead in latest Iraq vote count
Greece urges EU aid, but Germany 'open' to IMF appeal
Apple director Jerry York dies at 71
Iraq PM, ex-premier in tight race for parliament
Bullock cancels London trip, film premiere called off
Amazon unveils application to read Kindle e-books on Macs
Obama signs multibillion-dollar bill to create jobs
Creditors want Sex.com in bankruptcy, halt auction
Gaza rocket kills one in Israel, clouds Mideast peace moves
Poll: Three-Term Sen. Barbara Boxer Vulnerable In November
Obama calls for more job creation
London hospital to treat Internet-addicted teens
Myanmar deports jailed Burmese-American activist |
Blagojevich Denied Request To Delay Corruption Trial
Amazon allows Kindle application for Mac computers
Turkey detains 20 people in coup plot case
Israel attack on Iran could ignite Middle East: Hezbollah |
'Mr Microchips' proves popular in S.Korean schools
Mya Joins Cedric Gervais For NOH8 Campaign Theme Song
FedEx Q3 Profit Jumps On Volume Growth, Boosts Outlook
Ladies in White march on Cuba crackdown anniversary |
New Cycling Policy From Transportation Department Earns Praise, Ridicule
Kremlin picks site for Russian "Silicon Valley"
BREAKING NEWS: Obama Postpones Trip Abroad To Concentrate On Healthcare Bill
Cybersecurity needs global rules: British lawmakers
U.S. Leading Indicators Rise Modestly On Manufacturing Gains
Phone Call To Mom Brings Drug Trafficking Charge For Inmate
British youngsters prefer online advice to parents
New Jillian Michaels Series "Losing It With Jillian" Premieres In June
American Known As "Jihad Jane" Pleads Not Guilty To Terrorism Charges
Obama scraps Asia-Pacific trip for healthcare
Junta frees Myanmar-American, deports him
Obama ditches Indonesia, Australia trip over health care
Thai Red Shirts declare 'class war'
Japan, France call on Iran to resolve nuclear crisis now
France rules out opening embassy in N.Korea
US, Russia see disarmament deal clinched soon
Reports: N.Korea executes official over currency chaos
Google slams Viacom for secret YouTube uploads |
Clinton, Russia at odds over Iranian nuclear plant
N.Zealand's 'Madoff' fraudster spent millions on prostitutes
Website's instant posts of Wall St research banned |
Myanmar releases jailed US activist: officials
Soyuz spacecraft lands safely on Kazakh steppe
Amazon allows Kindle application for Mac computers |
FCC plans to announce broadband agenda |
Apple director Jerry York dies at 71 |
Creditors want Sex.com in bankruptcy, halt auction |
'JihadJane' pleads not guilty in domestic terror case
US operations already started in Kandahar: commanders
Obama health plan 'will cut deficit': US Congress
'JihadJane' pleads not guilty in terrorism case
France in big culture push to arts-repressed Saudis
15 years on, Japan film recalls doomsday cult sarin attacks
British hospital to treat Internet-addicted teens
Universal Studios Singapore courts 8 for lucky launch
Singer's musical journey reshaping Portugal's fado
HTC to 'fully defend' itself against Apple patent suit
Kia to build 100-million-euro engine plant in Slovakia
Palestinians struggle to impose settlements boycott
Nestle drops Indonesian company after Greenpeace demos
Japanese land prices fall at fastest pace in five years
Hollywood and Bollywood join arms to fight piracy
Davy Crockett star Fess Parker dies at 85 |
Pakistan aims to raise $500 mln with OGDCL bonds
Pakistan appoints economist Shaikh as finance chief
Pakistan's forex reserves rise to $14.85 bln
Pakistani stocks end up on finance adviser report
Nissan to make Leaf electric cars in Britain
Pakistan arrests ended UN talks with Taliban: ex-envoy
Argentina claims progress for Falkands talks with Britain
Israel strikes in Gaza after deadly rocket |
Deadly Gaza rocket, air strikes cloud peace talks
US-TECH Summary
Taliban arrests thwart Afghan talks: ex-U.N. envoy |
British boy arrives home after Pakistan kidnap ordeal
Israel strikes in Gaza after deadly rocket
Google adword win in Europe wouldn't end battles
Chileans' quake knowledge saved thousands of lives |
Netanyahu, Clinton talk after settlement crisis
Nasty Google-Viacom billion-dollar battle goes public
Israel attack on Iran could ignite Middle East
World Bank OKs record $1.05 billion for Indian schools |
Palm shares plunge on weak quarterly forecast
Creditors get turned off by sex.com auction
New Zealand's Madoff jailed for $13 million fraud |
Bomb damages right-wing group's Athens office |
Google slams Viacom for secret YouTube uploads
Economist not distributed in Thailand over royalty story |
Desktop computer sales soared in February: NPD Group
Japan to boost Haiti aid to $100 mln: report
Drug Arrest Connected To "Lost Boy's" Death
Rihanna Hits #1 On Billboard Hot 100 With "Rude Boy"
Ludacris Comes Out On Top With "Battle Of The Sexes" On Billboard
US rep: Pa. Jihad Jane terror suspect cooperated
U.S. says driver error possible in NY Prius crash
Beyoncé Joins Alicia Keys On Stage For Special Performance At New York Tour Date
Website's instant posts of Wall Street research banned |
China official warns of risk from yuan rise
The "Oscar curse," real or Hollywood invention?
China orders crackdown on cooking oil over cancer link
Japan celebrates defeat of bluefin tuna trade ban
Asian countries understanding of Obama trip delay
Alcohol 'worse than drugs' in Pacific: report
Study: Ancient Croc Dined On Dinosaurs
Pakistan arrests halt UN contacts with Taliban
FAA Proposes $300,000 In Additional Penalties Against American Airlines For Poor Maintenance
Google adword win in Europe wouldn't end battles |
Congress Frustrated by "Virtual Fence" Problems Along Mexican Border
Tryptophan Shown To Reduce Aggression In Pigs
Taylor Swift's "Fearless" Named Most Awarded Album In Country Music History
Jennifer Lopez goes "Overboard"
Sandra Bullock's husband seeks forgiveness |
Despite ratings wins, Leno still faces hurdles
Cable networks eye Sarah Palin reality show |
Jennifer Lopez goes Overboard |
Lady Gaga sued for $30 million by jilted producer |
Beau Bridges joins Rockford revamp |
"Life" breathes new vitality into nature series
No deal for Paula Abdul at ABC |
Graco Recalls 1.2 Million Unstable High Chairs
Public Access To Court Documents Set To Open Up
Polanski lawyers appeal, demand sentencing in absence |
'Hobbit' filming to start in July: Ian McKellen
British boy arrives home after Pakistan kidnap ordeal
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
UN wildlife body rejects bluefin trade ban
Obama scraps Asia-Pacific trip for healthcare push
Amid Afghan surge, disputed base becomes indispensable
McLaren launches new supercar
India's Bharti says to sell Apple's iPhone 3GS
Thai protesters target hearts and minds of Bangkok |
Quartet urges Israel to freeze settlement activity
China quality watchdog says some HP laptops faulty
Armenian migrants dragged into politics in Turkey
Quartet hopes package will unlock Middle East talks |
Iran jails top reformist: opposition website
Russia says Iran letting chances for dialogue slip |
Democratic Donor Admits To $292 Million Bank Fraud
Losing the battle to keep female flesh off Afghan TV |
"Barefoot Burglar" Once Again Eludes Authorities
China quality watchdog says some HP laptops faulty
Gay Advocates Detained After White House Rally Against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Pakistan denies arrests thwarted Taliban talks |
Second Teen Arrested In Florida School Beating Over Text Message Taunt
Rescuers End Search For Pacifica Swimmer
Syrian murder, Israeli planes not linked: official |
Killer Who Wrote Taunting Letter Executed
Cambodian bans women from marrying South Koreans
UK anti-militant project stirs Muslim unease |
Rice regrets how US prioritized rebuilding in Iraq
School Officials Condemn Obama Effigy In Classroom
Dutch lash out at gay link in Srebrenica massacre |
South Carolina Governor Agrees To Pay Fines For Ethics Charges
Thai protesters target "hearts and minds" of Bangkok
Paula Abdul Not Joining "Star Search" Remake
UN issues travel restrictions for staffers to Aceh
Virgin America Eyes Flights To Toronto By Summer
Japan celebrates defeat of bluefin tuna trade ban
Cambodia set to renovate genocide museum
Ore. lawsuit claims Boy Scouts sex abuse coverup
US may extend tanker deadline to allow EADS bid
India seeks to question US terror convict
Calif police department on alert for deadly traps
China imposing financial rules on religious groups
Mideast Quartet meets in Moscow
Obama legacy at stake as health vote looms
Protesters smash, paint Myanmar Embassy in India
Japanese fish dealers welcome tuna ban rejection
Palm's survival questioned |
China quality watchdog says some HP laptops faulty |
Deal near for Guantanamo closure, trials: report
Samsung, LG see growth, but know rivals are catching |
Google may announce China plans next Monday: report |
China tells Washington to cool yuan pressure
India's Bharti says to sell Apple's iPhone 3GS |
S.Korean bonds mixed, caution grows after rally
China says HP violated customer rights rules
S.Korea rejects N.Korea threat to seize assets
Middle East Quartet opens Moscow meeting
Taiwan stocks at 8-wk closing high; upside seen limited
Japanese fish dealers welcome tuna ban rejection
New Zealand's 'Madoff' jailed for $13 mln fraud
US leaves open option for more arms sales to Taiwan
China calls on Washington cool yuan pressure
Japan police seek criminal charges in Prius crash
Google to leave China April 10: state media
'Fantasies are real' says director Tim Burton
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Behind "Runaways" film, legal battle simmers
Uruguay is wine world's rising star
No death in the afternoon at S.Korea bullfight
Cable networks eye Sarah Palin reality show
Beau Bridges joins "Rockford" revamp
"South Park" season opener a strong performer
Behind Runaways film, legal battle simmers |
The Oscar curse, real or Hollywood invention? |
Despite ratings wins, Leno still faces hurdles |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01